Closing the skills gap

Sunday

Jul 13, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Business leaders in Rhode Island organized two bus trips to Massachusetts earlier this year to visit Worcester Technical High School ó a model for teaching students the skills required to compete for jobs...

Business leaders in Rhode Island organized two bus trips to Massachusetts earlier this year to visit Worcester Technical High School ó a model for teaching students the skills required to compete for jobs in a global economy.

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, D-Cranston, and Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist were among the public officials who accompanied the group.

The goal of the visits was to find ways to improve career and technical education here in Rhode Island that would help revitalize the economy.

For years, business owners have complained that recent graduates donít have the skills to match the jobs they have to fill. As a result, companies canít expand, the number of unemployed grows and the economy suffers.

The coalition that traveled to Worcester Tech worked with the Rhode Island Department of Education to craft legislation to lay the foundation for fundamental changes in career and technical education.

In its final days, the General Assembly approved the legislation that created a new board of trustees to replace the State Advisory Council on Vocational Education, which has not met for years.

The mission of the new board is to update and coordinate career and technical programs, develop a biannual plan and support private sector participation in the schools.

Also, the legislation creates an independent, nonprofit foundation that can raise money from private employers to set up internships and apprenticeships and provide funding to the new board.

Now that the law is in place, the coalition of 26 business groups, led by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, needs to broaden support among key leaders and educators.

Governor Chafee let the legislation become law without his signature, saying the proponents did not consult enough with educators. Letís hope the coalition can convince the next governor to help lead the group working to overhaul the system and improve the economy.

Also, some entrenched teachers and administrators opposed the proposal during legislative hearings, arguing that the new board would take over the schools. In response, the bill was amended to add five educators to the 15-member board; and a provision was added that says the trustees cannot take control of schools without the invitation of the school and its governing body.

The new law is only a start toward restructuring career and technical education in Rhode Island. But itís work that must be done.

Look at Worcester Tech, a school considered outdated a decade ago. But city and state leaders rebuilt the school in 2006 and reorganized the curriculum to include partnerships with businesses and universities to give students real-life job experiences.

Since then, Worcester Tech has been named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Education Department, and President Obama attended graduation exercises in June to highlight the need for skills-based education.

He told the graduates that they had learned how to run a restaurant, fix a computer or manage a household ó skills that would let them start a career as soon as they picked up their diplomas.

ďIf it can happen in Worcester, it can happen anyplace,Ē Mr. Obama said.